- Price per m²
- £57–£100
- Typical life
- 15–25 years
- Manufacturer guarantees
- 10–20 year material guarantees on specified systems
- Typical garage roof
- £1,450–£2,500
East Lothian at a glance
- Largest towns
- Musselburgh, Tranent, Dunbar, Haddington
- Postcode areas
- EH
- Building standards
- East Lothian Council
- Neighbouring areas
- Midlothian · City of Edinburgh · Scottish Borders · West Lothian
- Guide price region
- Scotland (−5% on West Midlands rates)
How much does a torch-on felt roof cost in East Lothian?
Guide prices including VAT at Scotland rates. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
| Job | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Single garage (18 m²), torch-on felt | £1,450–£2,500 |
| Extension (20 m²), felt, new deck + insulation | £2,550–£4,450 |
| Block of flats (150 m²), felt + insulation + scaffold | £14,750–£25,850 |
| Single garage (18 m²), EPDM rubber | £1,500–£2,650 |
| Extension (20 m²), EPDM, new deck + insulation | £2,650–£4,650 |
Which flat roofs are common in East Lothian?
Flat roofs in East Lothian sit on terraced streets with flat-roofed rear kitchens and bathrooms, shops with flat-roofed rear stores below flats and lock-up garage blocks on estates. Scotland averages roughly 1,570 mm of rain a year, with the west far wetter than the east, so drainage, falls and wind uplift are part of every specification we write. Approximate 1991–2020 regional averages based on Met Office data.
Building standards in Scotland
In Scotland a building warrant is usually needed for alterations, structural work and new roofs; like-for-like repairs to a covering can be exempt. Section 6 of the technical handbooks sets a domestic roof benchmark of 0.12 W/m²K, applied as far as reasonably practicable on an existing roof. In East Lothian the application goes to East Lothian Council (building standards). More on the rules.
Is torch-on roofing safe, and what is the difference between two- and three-layer systems?
Yes, torch-on is safe when hot works are properly controlled, because most roof fires linked to torching start at hidden timber or debris near edges and upstands, not on the open roof. Our teams follow a hot-works routine on every job:
- check eaves, fascias, soffits and wall cavities for timber, nests and debris before lighting a torch;
- use a cold-applied or self-adhesive membrane, rather than a flame, at edges, against combustible materials and in tight details;
- keep fire extinguishers on the roof and the gas bottles secured and away from the work;
- stop torching well before the team leaves, then carry out a fire watch so smouldering is spotted while people are still on site.
As for layers, a two-layer system (underlay plus cap sheet) is common on domestic roofs such as garages and extensions. A three-layer system adds an intermediate sheet, giving more thickness and redundancy, and is often specified on larger, commercial and multi-occupied roofs. The right choice depends on the size and use of the roof and the system's requirements, so we set it out in the quote.
Near a boundary, the external fire performance of the tested build-up, such as a BROOF(t4) classification, can also matter, and we check it where it applies.
Which towns in East Lothian do we cover?
Torch-on felt roofing in East Lothian: questions
Which towns in East Lothian do you cover?
All of East Lothian. The main towns have their own pages below, and if yours isn't listed we still cover it: send your postcode and we'll confirm.
How much does a torch-on felt roof cost in East Lothian?
£1,450–£2,500 for a typical 18 m² garage roof in torch-on felt, at Scotland guide rates including VAT. The fixed price comes after a free survey for new and replacement roofs.
Which council handles building standards for a flat roof in East Lothian?
It depends on where the roof is: in East Lothian that's East Lothian Council. In Scotland a building warrant is usually needed for alterations, structural work and new roofs; like-for-like repairs to a covering can be exempt. We confirm which applies at the survey.
Can torch-on felt be laid in wet weather?
Not in rain or on a wet deck, because moisture trapped under the membrane causes blisters. Light cold weather is usually workable, but we will postpone rather than lay on a damp surface.
Can torch-on felt go over an existing felt roof?
Sometimes, if the old roof is dry, well bonded and the deck is sound. Often stripping is better, because overlaying can trap moisture and hide rot; our guide to overlay or strip explains how we decide.
Is torch-on felt better than the old felt roofs?
Yes, considerably. Modern torch-on membranes are polymer-modified and polyester-reinforced, laid in bonded layers, and typically last much longer than the older felt systems they replace.
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